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TED2015

March 2015

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How this FBI strategy is actually creating US-based terrorists

There's an organization responsible for more terrorism plots in the United States than al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab and ISIS combined: The FBI. How? Why? In an eye-opening talk, investigative journalist Trevor Aaronson reveals a disturbing FBI practice that breeds terrorist plots by exploiting Muslim-Americans with mental health problems.

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There's an organization responsible for more terrorism plots in the United States than al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab and ISIS combined: The FBI. How? Why? In an eye-opening talk, investigative journalist Trevor Aaronson reveals a disturbing FBI practice that breeds terrorist plots by exploiting Muslim-Americans with mental health problems.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Trevor Aaronson

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An investigative journalist who reports on the FBI’s misuse of informants in counterterrorism operations, Trevor Aaronson asks the question: Is the United States catching terrorists or creating them?

Al Jazeera English, 2014 | Watch

Informants

This American Life, August 10, 2012 | Listen

The Convert

NPR, August 21, 2011 | Listen

Terror Probes Have FBI's Informant Numbers Soaring

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